New Hampshire has a new 1,300-acre wildlife management area on land known for its hiking, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing.
New Hampshire Fish and Game officials announced today that they are formally establishing the Theodore W. Walski Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on 1,308 acres of land they have conserved in the towns of Marlow and Alstead, New Hampshire.
The new WMA is named in honor of longtime Fish and Game wildlife biologist Ted Walski, whose decades of work advanced the restoration of wild turkeys and their habitat across the state.
Officials said the new WMA protects an ecologically rich landscape and ensures public access for wildlife‑based recreation. The large, contiguous property includes diverse forest types, wetlands, and the ecologically important Grassy Brook Corridor, supporting upland game birds, waterfowl, furbearers, and large mammals such as deer, bear, and moose.
“This project conserves one of the region’s most important habitat complexes while guaranteeing public access for activities such as hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife watching,” said Fish and Game Executive Director Stephanie L. Simek. “We’re proud to protect a landscape that reflects Ted’s lifelong dedication.”
New Hampshire Fish and Game will reportedly manage the Walski WMA to maintain and enhance its wildlife habitat values while allowing compatible public uses. An existing snowmobile trail will continue to offer access, and nonmotorized recreation such as hiking, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing will remain welcome.
The purchase was made possible through a partnership with The Conservation Fund (TCF), which, with financial support from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), acquired the land in 2024 as an interim owner, giving New Hampshire Fish and Game time to secure federal and state approvals for the project.
The project was primarily funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Program, whose funding is derived from an excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment that has been in place since the 1930s. Remaining costs were covered by funding from LCHIP, private fundraising by The Conservation Fund, and the value of lands donated to NHFG in the past. The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire also provided financial assistance that supports NHFG staff who worked on this project.
